**Originally Listed At $150**

South Asia, India, ca. 19th century CE. A lovely brass cosmetic box, cast in several parts and assembled to form two compartments. This box features a teardrop shaped container, and a peacock is surmounted atop the rivet that holds the cover lid in place. This cover swings open to reveal the compartment below, but the cover is thick enough to also contain another compartment with its own hinged lid. The tip features two additional peacocks that act as handles and hold the lid in place. This box was likely used to contain powdered kumkuma for bindis, and could conveniently store multiple pigments. Traces of red and blue on the exterior indicate the surface may have been vibrantly painted at one time! Size: 5.75" L x 2" W x 3.5" H (14.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 8.9 cm)

The peacock is the national bird of India, and has appeared in Indian art since the Indus Valley Civilization three thousand years ago! It is a symbol of many of the Hindu gods and represents immortality. The box, known as a kumkum or tikka box, was made to hold the powdered colors, some made of turmeric, worn on the forehead in Hindu religious ceremonies.

Provenance: ex-Davis collection, Houston, Texas, acquired before 2013 from various auction houses in London, UK and New York, USA

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#138739

Small perforations through cover. Large bird is loose. Small chip to lid. Mineral build up on the interior. Boths lids articulate. Rich patina and traces of painted pigments.